Day One - Departure: Today we begin our journey en route to Israel.

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Day Two - Tel Aviv / Bethlehem: On arrival in Tel Aviv this afternoon, we will be greeted by our tour manager and motor about one hour to Bethlehem for our overnight.

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Day Three - Bethlehem / Ein Karem / Holocaust Museum: Today we highlight the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. First we travel to Ein Karem, the village commemorating the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth and the birth of John the Baptist followed by a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. The remainder of the day will be in Bethlehem, where we will visit the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity, and Shepherds Field. Through our visits, input and reflections, we will gain a deeper understanding of the world and circumstances into which the Lord was born. Overnight in Bethlehem.

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Day Four - Samaria / Bet Shean / Sea of Galilee: This morning we continue north through Samaria where we see the twin mountains of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, known in the Old Testament as Mount Blessing and Mount Cursing. Here, we’ll visit Jacob‘s Well where Jesus met the Samaritan woman and said: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.” En route to Tiberias, we’ll visit Bet Shean whose Biblical history covers the Canaanites, the Philistines, and the Romans. Overnight in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for three nights.

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Day Five - Sea of Galilee / Capernaum / Mount of Beatitudes: Morning cruise on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, Jesus’ home for two years. Highlights of the day include: the Mount of Beatitudes (MT. 5:1-12); Tabgha, where we’ll visit the Church of the Multiplication and the Church of the Primacy of Peter. A special lunch will be arranged at a restaurant on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This afternoon we’ll visit the Pilgrim’s Baptismal site along the River Jordan to renew our own baptismal vows and we’ll stop at the Kibbutz Ginnosar to see the “Jesus Boat” dating from the 1st century. Overnight in Tiberias.

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Day Six - Mt. Tabor / Cana / Nazareth: Today’s excursion will take us by the Horns of Hattin, where Saladin defeated the Crusaders en route to Mt. Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration. Later, we continue to Cana where we plan to renew our marriage vows and then on to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we’ll visit the Church of the Annunciation. Overnight in Tiberias.

Day Seven - Tiberias - Golan Heights / Bethsaida / Tel Hazor / Tel Dan / Caesarea Philippi / Hippos: We begin the day by exploring the excavations at Bethsaida, the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip. Next, we visit Hazor, a city taken by Joshua. From here, we stop at a unique site called Qatzrin, a partially reconstructed Talmudic village. We will see what a typical village looked like during the days of Jesus. Later, we continue north through the Golan Heights to Tel Dan and its refreshing springs, one of the sources of the River Jordan. Nearby is Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Mt. 16). We end the day by driving along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee to Hippos, site of the 3rd century BC Greco-Roman city. Overnight in Tiberias.

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Day Eight - Caesarea-By-The-Sea / Mt. Carmel / Jerusalem: Today, be prepared to go back at least 2,000 years, where every mile will tell at least one Bible story. Our morning will begin at Caesarea-By-The-Sea. This ancient city was built by Herod the Great in honor of Augustus Caesar and was the capital of the Romans in the Holy Land for nearly 500 years. Caesarea serves as the backdrop for the Book of Acts, including the many visits by the Apostle Paul, his two-year imprisonment, and the commencement of his journey to Rome. Later, we motor along the coastal plain to the Carmel range for a panoramic view of Haifa. We drive on the crest of Mount Carmel to Muhragen where Elijah engaged in the contest with the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18: 1-40). From an elevated platform it is possible to see the hills of Nazareth, Mount Tabor, the Mountains of Gilboa, the valley of Jezreel (“Armageddon” in Revelation 16:16), and the hills of Samaria. Overnight in Jerusalem - our home for five nights.

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Day Nine - Jerusalem: The Old City and Via Dolorosa: Sites to be visited include the Dome of the Rock, the Way of the Cross, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), St. Anne’s Crusader Church with the Pool of Bethesda (where Christ healed the crippled man), Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, the Lithostrotos, and St. Stephen’s Gate. Later this afternoon we’ll visit the underground tunnels on the north-west side of the temple mount passing under the present day houses in the Old City. Along its path are remains from the second temple period, as well as structures from later periods. Overnight in Jerusalem.

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Day Ten - Jericho / Dead Sea / Qumran / Masada: Today we visit the small village of Jericho en route through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth (1,300 feet below sea level) en route to Qumran, the site of the Essene Community where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We’ll arrive Masada in the late morning. Our tour will include a visit to the remarkable ruins of the Fortress built by Herod the Great, where Jewish zealots made their last stand in revolt against the Roman legions. On our return to Jerusalem, you will have the chance to float in the Dead Sea, if you choose. Overnight in Jerusalem.

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Day Eleven - Jerusalem / Herodium / Hebron: This morning we’ll visit the Herodium (Herod’s Palace Fortress) and then journey south to Hebron to visit the Tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebecca. Overnight in Jerusalem.

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Day Twelve - Jerusalem / Mount of Olives / Garden of Gethsemane / Mount Zion: This morning we motor the short distance to the Mount of Olives to visit the Church of the Pater Noster, the Dominus Flevit Church where Jesus wept over Jerusalem according to Luke 19:41, and the Garden of Gethsemane. Later, we cross the Kidron Valley passing the Tombs of Absalom, Zechariah, and St. James. On Mount Zion we’ll visit the Church of St. Peter’s in Gallicantu and the Upper Room. This afternoon, your guide will arrange for some leisure time in the Old City. Overnight in Jerusalem.

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Day Thirteen - Tel Aviv / USA: Departure from Tel Aviv to the USA.

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